<h1>New one-time $100,000 filing fee applies to H-1B petitions filed after September 21, 2025, raising program uncertainty</h1> A new one-time $100,000 filing fee applies only to H-1B petitions filed after September 21, 2025, and does not affect existing H-1B holders, approved petitions, renewals, or re-entry on a valid H-1B stamp; travel should proceed cautiously until formal DHS guidance is issued. The fee is likely to impact cap-exempt employers and applicants in future lottery cycles. The announcement has increased uncertainty around the H-1B program, prompting advice to consider alternative immigrant and nonimmigrant pathways (for example, O-1, EB-1, or NIW) and to prioritize documentation and proactive planning to mitigate sponsorship and family disruption risks.